Thursday 13 , Revisited

With a handful of my blogger friends taking to writing again , I thought it's time to resume my blogging as well , big copycat that I am. I have been doing some cyber hopping these past few days to catch up on my favorite blogs, most of which I haven't had the chance to visit in a while. Boy, a lot has changed since the last time I've been 'here'. Philippines has a new President. A very much admired blogger friend and favorite scrabble opponent came up with a book that anybody who's read it absolutely loved. Another blogger friend became a first time dad ( Attaboy , Zherwin!). Still another became a first time mom. The list could go on and on. Changes, changes - the only thing in the world that are constant. ( teheeee, wasn't that a smart thing to say? :))

On my end, there's been changes as well. And coz it's Thursday and the Thursday 13 meme has always been a fun thing to do, I would like to share with you the " wassups with me" and some random thoughts in a true Thursday 13 form.


1. I'm done with the refresher courses ! ( uh,oww , I hope I didn't jinx it , since I still am awaiting my official grade on one subject.) 40 comprehension assignments and 13 Final exams later , I wait. Is it the board exams next or ???


2. Another nephew to love! I am so smitten with my brother's 6 month-old son Jude Francis that he became my official FB profile pic! All the better to show him off my dears!

3. A new favorite book! Annamanila's 'In Another Dress ' is compilation of selected stories and essays written in graceful Annamanila style. Straight-faced or quirky , proud or a little self-deprecatory , ecstatic or brooding , Annamanila is all too human. To read her is to love her.

4. Ironman II . I've always liked Robert Downey Jr. and any movie that he makes, me luvs. I liked the first Ironman movie better than this one though. I don't know why. Scarlett Johanssen rocked in this one . What a kick ass character !

5. Grey's Anatomy. If only they do away with too much mating and merry-go -round relationships , it would still be enjoyable to watch! Having said that, I still look forward to the next season , which perhaps could be the last? I read somewhere that Ellen Pompeo , who plays Dr. Meredith Grey is not renewing her contract after next season . Without Dr. Grey, what's the show gonna be called? ANATOMY? I do think that the most interesting character in the show though is Dr. Yang played by Sandra Oh. If she is gone , might as well pack up the set!

6. MODERN FAMILY. LOVE this show! As is always the case with me, the show should have been running for at least a year before I accidentally catch part of an episode and realize that it is darn good and feel bad for the good laughs that I've been missing all this time . The characters are all so funny . I am so new to the show that I have yet to be on first- name basis with them. Like I was with Jerry, George, Elaine and Kramer.

7. Valentine in Vegas. My first impression of Vegas from the air- how it looked like a giant christmas tree with all the lights! Arriving at night afforded us that breathtaking view. Seeing slot machines even at the airport amused me. Playing the slots while waiting for your flight isn't such a bad idea. Or while waiting for your ride to the hotel. ( no, not a good idea! ) .

8. The Grand Canyon. MAGNIFICENT !

9.Zumanity. Oh, what a night, oh, what a show!

10. The Rat Pack Show at The Plaza Hotel and Casino. Good steak dinner and amazing Frank Sinatra , Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. impersonators/ performers. They sound and look like the real deal.

11. Pinoy Food. All the Pinoys in Vegas. As soon as we left the airport , our cousins took us to-------JOLLIBEE! What is it about the chicken joy and the jollibee gravy that make them so good? Chicken is chicken is chicken. How come, it tasted better than chicken from say, McDo or Swiss Chalet? Could it be a matter of mind-conditioning , and anything that connects you to home seems to taste better, smell yummier? The Jollibee restaurant in Vegas is on the same building as Chowking, Red Ribbon and Seafood City and it felt like being back in the Philippines for a moment. Between bites, I discreetly watched my kababayans in the other tables and mused about things. Where do these people work? Do they miss the Philippines? Do they care about the upcoming elections ( at that time, the elections was coming up in about three months time. )Will there be a Lani Misalucha sighting?


12. Nanay Gloria. An all-you-can eat place in Vegas, where I had my fill of nilaga, tinola, prinito , ginataan , bbq pinoy style , and the many foods I missed. Definitely a place to go back to next time we are in town.


13. Facebook. A phenomenon. In much the same way that the 'video killed the radio star' , I thought Facebook is killing the blogger. For isn't it much simpler to write down your thoughts as soon as you think of them in a short shout-out form and know that your friends would read them than to compose a long drawn out prose? And does anybody visit blogs anymore? If you want to know how someone is doing , or what someone thinks these days , all you have to do is open her facebook page. Sometime I do think , blogging is such a hassle and time consuming . But when I read some of my past entries on this blog and got reminded of certain things and events in the past , like meeting up with blog friends for the first time, watching an enjoyable concert , going some place , or what I said about my mother on her birthday -- they bring back the memories and the sentiments , much like reading a diary can, and I am glad , I wrote.


HAPPY THURSDAY everyone!